Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2020 already!

(Y2K was only yesterday wasn't it?!)

Ok, since today is January 1st it's time to share a little inspiration with the 1st release of new stamps from Stampotique Originals for 2020!

See all new stamps HERE

Let's start of with an art journal spread... I love how Arthur looks to be sneaking out the back door... HAHA

(Veggie Boo may be in over her heels here, meanwhile I think someone else may be crushing on her... what do you think?)



sneaky, sneaky...

Don't look so sad Spongul, she'll figure it out...

Next, I want to share a special card using my new robot design!!! 

(I named him "Free Hugs")

Doesn't he look so perfect with Arwen's gears?

Now for some holiday celebrations with Asian lanterns!

(You know that's needed for every goon New Years party, Right?!)

Arthur can't wait on his guest to arrive!!

Last, but not least, I have been itching to try my hand at a Kassa style ATC, and this pretty new "Agatha Kitty" looked like she would be perfect! 

(I have actually colored her 4 different ways I loved her so much... shhh.. I'll have to share the others later... hehe!)

Anyhow, I can't completely get the viberant colors and textures like Kassa, but I had a ton of fun playing! (and that's what it's really all about!)

I may try a Milo style ATC next... 

(although not sure I can pull that one off even close...)

So... do you have a favorite of the new release stamps?
I don't know if I can decide, at first with was Agatha Kitty, but Arthur grew on me with his mischief...
now that I've colored them all and played with them I love them all too much to pick!

Did you make a new years resolution?

This year I'm not doing a resolution, but I will be daydreaming of getting our home paid off so that we can buy property in North Carolina some day.

Who doesn't love to day dream?

(Dreaming of building a home with a craft studio I can teach from keeps me extra energized and looking forward to 2020)

Do you have a daydream for this year?

Snark and Sass...

Hello crafty friends!

Today I want to share a fun snarky set of ATCs.

Who doesn't love a little sass? I have so many sassy stamps, and never enough time to share them! These three will be sent out to a friend. :) 

I hope you all enjoy these!

Stamps Used:

Lady looking out window

 Love your hair

Apparently I have an attitude

 Everytime I think of exercising

Housewife

Do you have a favorite snarky saying?

Coffee Time!!!

Hello Again!!!

Who else here is a Coffee Addict?
Some of you know I am!!!

In Honor of my love of coffee, I have decided to make a set of 3 ATC's. 

Stamps Used:

Coffee Ring Stain

Fancy A Cuppa

Lady with Cuppa

Man with Tea Cup

I stamped these all with black Stayzon ink, and versa fine sepia ink.  

(I also used the Verafine to edge everything) 

Stampotique New Release Stamps and Challenge Inspiration

Hello Again Everyone!

Today I want to share a card that I created for the Stampotique Originals Designers Challenge, as well as a few samples for the New release stamps for March!!!

For this weeks ribbon and lace challenge I used "Elaina" she is

one of the new stamp releases for this month, along with the Fragile stamp from the Barcode stamp. 

I am loving this new stamp! She is so fun and sassy!

Art Journal Page

(Why not one More with Elaina? 

She's so fun, and you know I love that "brolly" from last months release! )

Stamps: Elaina, Script Background, Brolly

(one more so you can see the shimmer from the wink of stella)

Just a fun head in the clouds greating card...

(How cute is this plane?!?)

Stamps: All Aboard, Phrase Cube, Spiral Daydream

(My 1st ever shaker card!)

Stamps: Cupcake and cupcake text

ATC that I turned into a mini card to mail an ATC in :D 

Stamps: Cranium (by Daniel), Bla Bla Bla

Thank you for stopping by today.

I Hope you are inspired and you love all of these new stamps as much as I do!!! 

Stay Curious

Hello Everyone!!! 

Today I want to share some super fun inspiration with you. 

The 1st piece is a tag I created for this weeks Stampotique designers challenge, (animal head on human body).  You can check out the challenges and see more inspiration HERE. 

I love how this tag came out!  The colors are so rich and everything about it just makes me happy! 

the background was created with distress inks and a stencil. for the stamp coloring i used my Zig clean color brush markers, a white gel pen, microns (for added details), and a wink of stella glitter pen.

Stamps Used: 

Wolfie King (head and belt)

Fofe (body)

For my 2nd piece I want to share with you, this is an ATC i created for this months Stampotique swap on the facebook group! Feel free to join us, or just follow for inspiration!!! 

( This months theme is "circles" )

I used distress inks and stencils to create the background, and various markers to color Marsha

Stamps Used: 

Marsha

Seek Paradise

stitching (from bo bunny)

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Stay inky! 

Day Dreaming of Paradise

Hello Friends! 

Today I am here to share a pair of really fun ATC's

 (Artist Trading Cards) with you! 

For those of you whom know me personally, you know I am a dreamer...

I love the ocean, and my head is always in the clouds dreaming up ideas...
So this new stamp from VLVS spoke to my heart from the moment that I saw it!!! 

To create these ATC's I used the wrinkle free distress technique carefully building up each layer of color... I stamped my images in black archival ink and used a black ink pen to draw my boarder.  I also added a few flicks of some glimmer mist to give it that extra dreamy feel!

I can tell this little girl is a dreamer too!! 

(And Who doesn't Love Banksy!?!)

Stamps Used:    

Seek Paradise 3/4 x 2 1/4

Banksy Child Fishing In Paper Boat 4 x 2 1/2

Thank you for stopping in to dream with me today!
I hope you find yourself dreaming of your paradise too! 

Artful ATC's

Hello Again!!! 

Today I'm here to show you some super fun ATC's using 

Lost Coast Designs And Carmen Veranda stamps

( I LOVE Artist Trading Cards!!! They are so fun to make and collect!! and Now you can even add the to Pocket Letters!!) 

Stamps Used:   

Queen 

Day Of The Dead Lefty

Tree Of Life 

To Create these ATC's I started with some Scraps of painted art journal paper given to me by my mom (Her blog is HERE). They were created with Dylusions paints and various stencils. I cut 3 pieces to 2x3in for stamping on and 3 pieces to 2.25 x 3.25 in to matte on. the final layer is black card stock in standard 2.5 x 3.5 in. I stamped my images on the top layer of each and set them aside to dry (ink on paint can some times be temperamental... although this paint plays well with stamps)

While the tops dried I glued the bottom and middle layers together. 

Next I glued the stamped images to their bases and used a fine tip black pen to draw on some faux stitching.... (I love that it pulls the layers together). 

Lastly I added a few hints of color to small parts of each card to help different features stand out a little more :D   Detailed photos below 

 I hope these inspire you to create some fun pieces too!! I Just love how these came out!!! :D 

VLVS and Pocket Letter Pals

Hello Everyone!! 

Have you heard of the new fun craze in the crafty mail world? 

It's called Pocket Letter Pals!! Read about it HERE or a short video HERE from the woman who started it. 

I am in love with creating these!!! 

Naturally I love creating ATC's and you know any excuse to create a decorative envelope gets me excited!! So, needless to say this new trend is right up my alley!!!

 I hope you all love what I have to share with you and give it a try also! I know you will love it too!

Stamps used:
Plate 1455 (seriously a MUST HAVE plate! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this plate!!!) 

Pair of Boots 2 1/2 x 2 1/2

Grunge Plus Sign 3/4 x 3/4

Coffee Ring Stain 2 3/4 x 2 1/4

Banksy Achieve Greatness 1 1/2 x 2 1/4

Skinny Minnie 1 x 2 3/4

Pen Tips 2 3/4 x 2

Large Lightbulb 2 x 3

Moon Circle 1 3/4 x 1 1/2

Whimsical Owl in Clothes 1 3/4 x 3

Window Fish 2 1/2 x 3 1/2

Other supplies: 
 Dylusions paints (or whatever you want to create your background with)
Black Ink
Memento Ink in pink (optional used for some background stamping)
Scissors for fussy cutting the owl out
pink marker (color in top right card)
White Gel Pen (add highlights and depth)
Black Marker (to draw "hello")

I started with these super fun painted backgrounds (these two were actually created for me by my mom :D whom is also a craft addict! her blog is HERE)

(owl card created from this sheet)

Next I cut the paper up into individual cards measuring 2.25in x 3.25 in (if you don't want to mount yours on black standard ATC size is fine also)... NOW the fun begins!!!

(Here you can see how my layout started...
and
from the final picture you can see things have been moved around some)

I start by arranging my base cards so that they are pleasing to the eye.. then I start stamping :D I like to add something tea or coffee related since people often send these items with thier letters, so thats what I start with. my next step is usually my "Hello" or about me card. From there i tend to bounce around adding qoutes, and things that blend nicely and make me smile :D 

(Feel free to simplify yours I got super excited and went stamping crazy!! )

Below are some close up - detail shots

(the boots and fish are my 2 favorites... :D )






(had to share one more close-up of this one! I love it!!)

(with VLVS there is no limit to what you can do with these things! Some prefer to work by theme, or style or even color inspiration... Heck you could do cats, dogs or things that start with a specific letter..lol) 

I hope you feel inspired and as excited as I am about these! Let us know if you'd like to see more Pocket Letter inspiration!!